If you have seen those trucks towering high above the road than you are familiar with what a lift kit is. Perhaps you wondered exactly how they work and what the different ways of achieving such a lift are. The two types of lifts out there are body lifts and suspension lifts. Neither is completely superior to the other, and they both have both benefits and disadvantages. If you are considering lifting your vehicle to newfound heights, how do you which one to choose? It all depends on what features you want out of a lift.
If you are going mostly for looks and not off-roading capabilities, a body lift would probably be the best fit for you. Body lifts are cheaper and they don't throw off your suspension geometry. They are a great choice if you just want the look of a lifted vehicle or if you want to just feel higher up. You can install larger tires with this type of lift also, so it is a good choice, especially for a beginner to install.
If off-roading is your main concern, you should definitely look into a suspension lift. Although more costly than a body lift, you will get much better results. Suspension lifts replace shocks and springs, but they will change your vehicle's steering geometry. More components and work are needed to get this type of lift set up, and it requires more expertise for installation. Similarly to the body lift, this lift also allows you to install larger tires. This type of lift will allow you to crawl around in the off-road areas more successfully, but it is not for everyone.
There is more to installing lift kits than just installing some suspension parts onto your vehicle. If you choose to install larger tires, your speedometer will no longer read accurately. Additional calibration modifications will need to be done to correct this problem, or you can leave it as it is if that vehicle just serves the purpose of being a serious off-roading vehicle.
In the end, it all comes down to want you really want out of a lift and how much you are willing to spend. I recommend that you do it right if you choose to install a lift kit. Get a nice reputable kit instead of a really cheap one and make sure it is installed properly. The last thing you want is to get injured or injure somebody else from an improperly installed lift kit. If you lack the knowledge or tools to do it yourself, check around for prices on installation. It can be very costly to pay someone to do this for you. Also remember that the higher you lift the vehicle, the less stability it will have, especially around turns. Compare your options, choose wisely, install carefully, and then go have fun with a new lift kit.
